The Solitary Reaper

English 2nd Year Notes

Q1. Briefly describe the incident that led Wordsworth to the poem “The Solitary Reaper”.

Ans. William Wordsworth was roaming in the Scottish hills. He saw a highland girl in a valley. She was alone and was singing a queer song. The poet could not understand the meaning of the song and preserved into his heart. The beautiful melody of the song supplement by the natural scene of valley.

Q2. Describe the “Solitary Reaper” as seen by the poet what is she singing?

Ans. The poet has presented one of his experiences when he crossed through a hill of girl and her song. In the poem, the poet says that she had a very sweet and thrilling voice and her music was echoing in the whole valley. He asks himself what may be the burden on her song, but fails to guess it. However, he says that the music has a magical effect. Perhaps it gives an account of war held in the pat or it is about some current matters of that time. Whatever may be the substances, the tone of the songs has stolen his heart and mind so much that he has forgotten his worries for the moment. In the end he says that whatever he is lonely he remembers the song of the pure, simple and innocent girl. The song has inspired the poet to write this wonderful poem.



Q3. What does Wordsworth mean when he says in the Solitary Reapers will no one tell me what she sings?

OR

What is the theme of her song?

Ans. The poet says that no one tell him about the subject matter of her song. He was absolutely unable to understand or make out a single word of the song because the girl’s song was in her native language, Gaelic, still spoken in the Hebrides and the Scottish hill side.(educationsight.blogspot.com) Perhaps she was singing her song in the memory of some unfortunate old event of remote past, or of some battles fought long ago or it may be that her theme deals with ordinary every day happenings about some grief or pain.

Q4. How does Wordsworth compose the song of the solitary reaper to the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo?

Ans. Nightingale and Cuckoo birds are famous for their songs full of melody in mountains areas their sweet voices inspire the listeners. To the poet the song of the village girl was more melodious than the song of the above said birds. It was echoing the whole valleys and moved the poet very intensely.